Ex-Scout leader accused of stealing Girl Scout cookie money

Wednesday

Feb 25, 2009 at 12:01 AMFeb 25, 2009 at 8:48 PM

Police charged April Martineau, 28, with fourth-degree grand larceny — a class E felony — and third-degree falsely reporting an incident, a misdemeanor, after she allegedly lied about a burglary at her home and later admitted to keeping more than $2,000 worth of cash and checks raised during a fall 2008 Girl Scout cookie sale.

Justin Head

It’s one thing to get caught with your hand in the cookie jar, but it’s a lot more serious if the jar turns up missing entirely.

Bath-based state police on Monday charged April Martineau, 28, of Troupsburg, with fourth-degree grand larceny — a class E felony — and third-degree falsely reporting an incident, a misdemeanor, after she allegedly lied about a burglary at her home and later admitted to keeping more than $2,000 worth of cash and checks raised during a fall 2008 Girl Scout cookie sale.

According to troopers, Martineau allegedly reported a burglary at her home on Dec. 8, 2008, and claimed $1,200 in cash and $1,000 in checks raised for the Girl Scouts had been stolen. When Martineau repeatedly dodged a state police investigator who was trying to follow up on the initial report, authorities began to question the legitimacy of her burglary claim.

“She was avoiding me for two months. It was strange. She was reporting a burglary to her home and I thought it was odd that the homeowner who was reporting a burglary to her residence was not availing herself to me for an interview,” said Inv. Marci Trimble.

Trimble said several details of the alleged burglary were suspicious.

Trimble said when she stopped at Martineau’s home earlier this week, Martineau confessed to keeping the money and cooperated with the investigation. Trimble said before the confession was made, she already reviewing large purchases Martineau had recently made.

Trimble said Martineau had spent the money on “family items” but would not identify specifically what the items were.

A state police press release said Martineau had briefly been a Scout leader in the Troupsburg area.